By Sally Thomson, Jun 28 2016 01:42PM

If you suffer from anxiety you may recognise that it is possibly rooted in the fear of losing control. If you have struggled with anxiety attacks in the past, you may know that they can come on at any time which in turn may instigate a vicious cycle whereby the fear of one can actually then trigger the real thing.

In almost all cases of generalised anxiety the driving factor is therefore anxious thinking. It is important to recognise that you need not always react with fear to anxious thoughts just because you have always done so in the past. Continuous anxious thinking is merely a behavioural habit and just like any habit it can be unlearned. Using a variety effective methods within a hypnotherapy session, including aspects of CBT and NLP, years of anxious thinking and general anxiety can be reduced enabling you to experience a different emotional reaction to your thoughts.

Tips on Dealing with Anxiety.

1 Breathe well

Correct breathing has a profound effect on the nervous system and clarity of mind.

There are essentially four types of breathing.

The complete breath. This way of breathing is the most desirable as it utilises all of the components needed for breathing. You will notice lots of movement in the whole of the chest and all of the breathing muscles, including the muscles between the ribs are used. By expanding the diaphragm the ribs are pushed out and the lungs have room to inflate.

Low abdominal or diaphragmatic breathing. This is not quite as good as the previous method but the lungs are still given plenty of space for air to be inhaled.

Rib or mid breathing. This type of breathing fills the middle of the lungs and again is less desirable than the previous method.

Collar bone or shoulder breathing (hyperventilation). This type of breathing means that only the upper portion of the lungs are filled and therefore this breathing pattern produces changes in carbon dioxide levels in the blood, disrupting the function of the nervous system. This can lead to feelings of anxiety, panic attacks and palpitations.

2 Reduce your caffeine intake.

Caffeine has been shown to aggravate symptoms of stress. It is defined as a drug as it stimulates the central nervous system, increasing alertness. High doses of caffeine can cause anxiety, headaches and dizziness. It can also disrupt sleep patterns.

3 Delegate

Don’t feel that you have to do everything alone. Offload some tasks on other people or break a job down into more manageable chunks to give to other people with the skills to help.

4 Take exercise

Regular physical activity in something that you enjoy is a superb way to relieve stress and aid relaxation. Whether it’s a walk in the countryside, swimming or gardening, there are many different ways to stimulate the natural endorphins within our bodies and promote inner calm.

5 Learn to relax your mind and body completely

Practice ways to relax your mind and body through guided visualisations using self-hypnosis or other forms of meditation. Imagine yourself in your desired state and use affirmations to reinforce the process.

You can become a calmer and healthier person by using these techniques, taking time out to nurture yourself and relieve the stress in your life.

By Sally Thomson, Jun 28 2016 01:20PM

With the arrival of the brighter weather comes the busiest season of the year for holiday makers. Summer holidays are booked and the flying season is upon us! For many people however the thought of their summer breaks are marred by their fear of flying. More and more people are approaching me to help them with this fear, perhaps as a result of recent plane disasters or simply feelings of being out of control and panicking. They recognise that this feeling is irrational yet the emotional impact is very real to them. They tell me that they constantly play the worst case scenario over and over in their minds, like a mental movie of events before they have even happened, and as a result of this, reinforce all these negative feelings.

By using a combination of cutting edge techniques including hypnotherapy, NLP for confidence, aspects of CBT and Emotional Freedom Technique, these old outdated responses can be changed to ones of calmness, confidence and excitement.

One of my favourite aspects of working with fears and phobias are the positive texts I receive from my clients - either from the airport or on the return from their holiday, telling me of how their whole holiday experience was enhanced as they no longer worried about flying. Of how they now felt that the holiday excitement long before they laid down a towel on the beach….and no longer counted the days with dread until they had to board their flight home.

Hypnotherapy can make dramatic changes to peoples’ deep seated fears, irrational thoughts and feelings by changing their intensity and replacing them with more positive and constructive behaviour. Every aspect of holiday planning and experience can then be one of excitement and eager anticipation.

If you would like to find out more about how hypnotherapy could help you enjoy your flying experience, contact me today to find out more!

*Disclaimer: Each individual responds differently to hypnotherapy so therefore results cannot be guaranteed and vary from person to person. It is my duty to put in the maximum effort I possibly can to help assist you with the challenges you face, the problems you wish to overcome or the positive change you wish to make. The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment and any medical questions should be directed to your personal doctor.